The Great Stratford Run

There's no way that I'll enjoy walking 146 miles in nine days if I'm not fit enough. So, with much ceremony, including the donning of new running shoes and strenuous looking stretches to impress the dog, I left the house yesterday lunchtime for my first training run.

Now, I used to be fit. I played hockey three times a week for Thames Valley and Wellington College, regularly biked for many-a-mile and still slog up the mountains of the British Isles on a fairly regular basis. But it was pretty darn obvious a quarter of a mile into my run that my mind was cashing cheques my body had no intention of cashing. I was honestly amazed that there were areas of my upper body that were moving to an independent rythmn from the rest of me. That belly wasn't there the last time I went for a run -- four years ago!

As I reached the half-mile stage, the endorphins were replacing oxygen in my lungs and brain, inducing a rapidly escalating sense of shock at my pitifully poor state of fitness.

By the three quarter mile stage, I realized that I had made a huge mistake in my route selection for this inaugral run. Working from home yesterday, I decided to run along the bank of the River Avon out of town, across a bridge and re-enter the town by the theatre and return home via the opposite bank. Sounds idillic, right? Wrong. Picture my alarm as I crossed the bridge into the summer throng of visitors to Stratford from every nation on earth. I tried my very best to straighten my back, tidy up my stride and look at least half-decent for a man of my relatively young age, but within a few yards I had reverted to my sweating, panting, half-deranged looking stupor. The Japanese coach party looked genuinely alarmed, the German family backed off and I could swear I heard an American tourist shout "it ain't worth it, buddy". OK, so I exaggerate, but I know I wasn't a pretty site weaving my way through the crowds.

This agony amd embarrassment lasted all of 18 minutes and about a mile. In a word, I'd sum up my start as rather pathetic. But, on the bright side as I sit here munching unrepentently on a bar of Green and Blacks chocolate, it can only get better. I plan to run 1 or 2 miles four times per week in June, increasing to three miles in July, ready for the walk in August. Starting was the hardest bit, and I'm determined to work at it to get fitter.

So yep -- my legs ache terribly today -- and I know that when I run tomorrow, I'm going to experience how it's going to get a whole lot harder before it gets better.

The Shakespeare's Way: Coming Summer '07

On August 4th, I plan to walk 146 miles from the birthplace of Shakespeare, about 600 yards from our house here in Stratford Upon Avon, to his first theatre situated on the South Bank of the river Thames in London.... in nine days.

It's a long distance path called, not unsurprisingly, "Shakespeare's Way". It meanders through, in my humble opinion, some of the most gloriously beautiful countryside in England called The Cotswolds, including towns such as Chipping Norton, Woodstock, Oxford, Marlow, Windsor and Kew, culminating in a final stretch along the Thames past Westminster to the Globe Theatre.

Linking this huge network of individual public right's of way together was the work of an incredible gentleman called Peter Titchmarsh, who lives in Stratford. He also founded the "MacMillan Way", a walk of 290 miles that links the west and east coast's of England. Both the "Shakespeare's Way" and "MacMillan Way" are dedicated to the work of two similar charitable organizations (Shakespeare Hospice and Macmillan Nurses) that provide palliative care to people with terminal illnesses, enabling people to receive the best possible hollistic support as they die. I'll be doing this walk to raise money for the Shakespeare Hospice, so be prepared to give generously!

Each day, I plan to walk between 15 and 20 miles, depending on the terrain and places to stay. I haven't decided yet whether I'll camp, B&B or do a combination of both. I need to spend a couple of evenings studying the maps.

The walk is nearly all through countryside, so it will take a lot of navigation. Anyone who has walked in "the real country" around England will know that there are occassional signs along fences, on gates and near roads, but the route will almost entirely require a large scale map, concentration and a bit of luck (aka a GPS!).

It will also require a better level of fitness than I currently have. Urgh. Most people, if not all, could walk 20 miles in a long day over a gently undulating landscape. But everything feels a little stiff the following day -- so after nine days of solid walking without a rest day, I fully expect that its going to be a little challenge.

So to ensure that it doesn't turn out to be a week of blisters and flayling legs (this is my idea of holiday, afterall!), I'm going to spend a couple of months getting in shape. How hilarious is that?!

Tomorrow, I'm going on my first run!!!

Barcelona, Spain

Last week, I spent a few days in Barcelona for one of our major European events. It was a real flying visit, cramming four days into two and a half. Barcelona is a gorgeous city -- or so they tell me. All I saw was the inside of taxi's, a hotel and the conference center. We did venture out for one evening and had a lovely dinner (at 8pm, which is really early by local standards -- they normally START at 10pm!!) by the harbour -- I don't recall the name. Other than that, I didn't have a chance to snap a pic, so I'll have to make do with this shot from the web to provide a taster for the city (it's really big!). I think we'll need to go back.

St. Ives, Cornwall

If Cornwall is God's country, St. Ives is the capital. We just love the place. Here's a couple of pictures that show why. Unfortunately, the weather was not so great this year -- actually, it was dreadful! But we had a good time despite being wet for a week.

English Country Life

K sent this short documentary film over this morning and it really does sum up English country life.

The Perfect Martini

A friend shared this article in the New York Times on the perfect Martini, as I do like a tipple of gin (or two) -- especially my favorite, Hendricks. After reading this review, I look forward to trying them all!

New York

I'm in New York and Stamford, Connecticut, all week this week. After flying home from San Francisco on Friday night and then flying back to the East Coast of the US on Sunday, I have no idea what day it is, nevermind what time it is. Boy, I miss the city -- the view in this photo shows why.

Can't wait for our holiday in Cornwall next week!!

Diet Coke & Mentos

A work of genuis - watch this video.